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NANA -
Nature And Nurture Area

NANA poster.jpg

NANA – Nature And Nurture Areas

NANA (Nature And Nurture Areas) is our community-led garden project based in Lochside, Dumfries. It’s a peaceful, inclusive space where people come together to connect with nature, nurture their wellbeing, and grow both food and friendships.

The garden is designed to support mental health, community resilience, and environmental awareness. Whether you're looking to dig in and learn new skills or simply need a quiet moment in nature, NANA offers something for everyone.

Our space includes:

  • A thriving orchard providing fresh fruit and a symbol of long-term community growth.

  • Vegetable and fruit beds where people of all ages can learn to grow seasonal produce, promoting food security and healthy eating.

  • A dedicated area for wildflowers with medicinal properties, reviving traditional knowledge and offering natural support for wellbeing.

At its heart, NANA is about more than growing plants—it’s about cultivating connection, confidence, and care. Many of the people who visit the garden are navigating life’s challenges, from isolation and anxiety to low confidence or loss. NANA offers a gentle, grounding space where people are welcomed without judgement and encouraged to grow at their own pace.

We run regular gardening sessions, creative nature-based workshops, and seasonal activities, all rooted in community values and local knowledge. The garden is maintained by a mix of volunteers, residents, and participants from across our projects—including young people, families, and older adults.

NANA is a space to breathe, belong, and bloom—naturally.

Environment

Reduce Carbon

Milage of Food

Protect

Enhance

Respect

Value

Encourage Biodiversity

Social Impact

Mental health

Friendships

Safe spaces

Reduce isolation

Reduce loneliness

Emotional connection

Educational

Biodiversity

Food Origins

Botany

Climate

Cooking

Recycle

Upskills

Happy life/Healthy Life

Intergenerational skills

Self-reliant

Economic

Employment

Positive Impact

Personal development

Earn money

Develop skills

Skill share

Biodiversity

Eco life

Oxygen

Air + Water

Pollination of plants

Wastewater

Genetics – species –

Ecological

bug life

Equality

Inclusive

Empowered

Resilient

Safe space

Valued

Protect

Enhance

Encourage

Better diets

Exercise

Mental health

Education

Therapy

NANA
at the Cabin
Community Garden ideas

Community Work

Community Work with Wheatley homes south, Donations from the Branching out project and Wheatley. 

Laurieknowe Primary School 

This is The Dandelion Goddess Structure donated to LIFT D&G by the Dandelion Project. 

©LIFT D&G 
Updated April 2025

CONTACT US:
PHONE:
(01387) 279657

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We are based at YMCA Building on the Lochside road, Lochside.

We also have shops called the Community exchange and the Community Extra on the Lochside road across from McDonalds. 

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